Serlio, Reigles generales de l'architecture, Antwerp, 1545, modern half vellum

Serlio, Sebastiano. Reigles generales de l'Architecture, sur les cincq manieres d'edifices, ascavoir, Thuscane, Doricque, Ionicque, Corinthe, & Composite, avec les exemples danticquitez, selon la doctrine de Vitruve. Antwerp: [Gilles Coppens van Diest for] Pieter Coecke van Aelst, 1545

Second edition of an unauthorised French translation by Pieter Coecke van Aelst of Serlio's "Column Book" (Book IV). This edition was primarily meant to educate the emerging clientele of architecture in the Serlian style (rather than craftsmen), utilising woodcuts by Cornelis Bos previously employed in the translator's 1542 French and German editions, and his Flemish edition of 1539.

Folio (338 x 244 mm). Roman type. collation: A-S⁴: 72 leaves. Title-page within woodcut frame featuring arabesques, festoons, and the insignia of Maria of Hungary (dated 1545), ca. 150 woodcut illustrations (many full-page). (Some dampstaining, but otherwise a good copy.)

binding: Modern quarter vellum over marbled boards (346 x 245 mm), flat spine lettered in gilt, red edges.

acquisition: Purchased from Robin Halwas Ltd, London, 1999. references: Fowler 317; USTC 34131; Vène, Bibliographia Serliana 10; for reproduction of title-page of present edition: De Jonge, "Vitruvius, Alberti, and Serlio: Architectural treatises in the Low Countries", Paper Palaces: The Rise of the Renaissance architectural treatise, Hart and Ricks, eds. (New Haven, 1998)